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Indoor air pollution is an invisible danger - a little known but growing toxic problem inside UK homes.

In advance of this year’s Clean Air Day, 21 June, Global Action Plan, in partnership with Airtopia, has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the problem of indoor air pollution inside UK homes, encouraging people to take steps to improve the air they breathe indoors.

Indoor air pollution comes from multiple sources including gas stoves, wood burners, personal care products such as nail varnish and deodorant, burning candles, home cleaning products, and soft furnishings. We spend up to 90% of our time indoors where levels of some pollutants are higher than outside, often without ventilating appropriately.

Research conducted in advance of Clean Air Day found:       

• Only 36% of adults are aware of the effects of indoor air pollution on their health compared to 85% of UK adults that are familiar with the effects that outdoor air pollution has on their health

• 3 in 5 (60%) were unaware of any actions they can take to reduce indoor air pollution

• Householders are attempting to improve the ambience of their homes - nearly half (48%) of UK adults burn candles to improve the ambience of their home, while a similar number use air fresheners (53%)

• 1 in 6 (16%) of those surveyed identified smelly food as a key source of indoor air pollution
  Those surveyed were asked about the effects that personal care products have on air pollution in the home. Whilst a massive 80% of those questioned identified the indoor effects that hairspray has on pollution, two thirds (68%) had no idea that fake tans products are also harmful.

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